GDT: Quarter Finals: Canada vs Czechia; Jan. 2, 2025; 19:30 EST

[Oan]

Europeans have been coming over here since the 1990s and playing in the CHL. Americans, that's fine, because our boys play in their NCAA leagues too, and there are a few American cities in the CHL. So it is a fine give and go there. But not with Europeans. We get nothing in return (other than the suits get a lot of extra money for having them here). Imagine a system where only Canadians could train and we only taught Canadians how to play the game. Sort of a secret system. Kind of like how the Soviets used to do it with their training methods back in the day.

You kinda sound like that Canada owns ice hockey and that only team Canada should be allowed to win gold every year.

 

[llwyd]

You kinda sound like that Canada owns ice hockey and that only team Canada should be allowed to win gold every year.

They are the nicest nation on Earth - apart from one thing, hockey. When it comes to hockey a demon takes them over, and many become arrogant bullies either bragging and belittling others or then whining... Though luckily not nearly all!

 

[CanadaIsIrrelevant]

 

[Holtbyisms]

In the immortal words of a legend around these parts...

"lol @ canada"

 

[Silky Johnson]

Canada is going to deservedly lose this game

They need some major restructuring if they want to go back to being the perennial favourites

Pick competently from the largest pool of qualified Hockey Executives.

Pick a good coach from the best pool of Hockey Coaches.

Pick the best players from the best pool of Hockey Players.

Actually act like a normal Hockey team and hold practices.

Continue to win plurality of international Hockey Tournaments.

Seems like a pretty easy thing really restructure.

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

I’m just here for the comments.

 

[Tuoppi]

Hockey is Czechia's game.

 

[Hallonbroder]

Really scary reading so many posts that sounds like Don Cherry could’ve written them. I guess that’s what to expect these days when bullies and criminals are fit, to some, to represent countries these days to, though..

Just swallow the f in loss, Canadians.

 

[neronet]

Great match with happy end for our team

 

[The Expert]

Agreed. That's a different conversation though.

Tonight's game will probably be one of the highest rated sporting events in Canada in 2025. That's what I was referring to.

Last year's quarter final game didn't even crack the top 10 so not sure why you think this year's will.

 

[Slimmy]

The way I see it is new age officiating has taken the edge away from Canadian hockey… aggressive physical hockey. The Beaudoin hit was not even close to kneeing, in fact not even a penalty. The Gibson hit was not kneeing, but I could see a 2 minute tripping penalty. Why you attempt that kind of hit, following the Beaudoin penalty is mind blowing. Especially at that moment of the game and on that play where it wasn’t going to create a dangerous scoring chance.

Main Factors for disappointing result:

Playing undisciplined - 14:36 PIM/GP (only counting 2 & 5 minute penalties).

The US, who I consider the 2nd most aggressive team in the tournament took 10:00 PIM/GP.

Lack of finish - Canada’s highest goal scorer, Nadeau (2 goals). Entire team, 13 goals.

US, Czechia and Sweden all doubled that number of goals.

Coaching - Short tournament, but coaching did not make adjustments as quickly as needed and they just failed to admit that the initial assessments and expectations of players were not being realized.


Lots of blame to go around, but let’s not forget the players are U20. Still learning to play the game and manage their emotions. They all wanted to win Gold for their teammates, their families, their country and, yes, even themselves.

I do think we have tip our hats to underdog teams like Latvia and Czechia, who really showed a lot of hard work and strategic execution of a game plan to take advantage of Canada’s woes.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Canada no longer gets preferential treatment by the refs when playing in Canada. They get called now just like every one else.

 

[Gritty Bonk]

They are the nicest nation on Earth - apart from one thing, hockey.

And the Geneva Convention *cough cough*

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

Idk, maybe try bringing our best players, and practicing, and not taking 40,000 penalties.

 

[Shark Finn]

Europeans have been coming over here since the 1990s and playing in the CHL. Americans, that's fine, because our boys play in their NCAA leagues too, and there are a few American cities in the CHL. So it is a fine give and go there. But not with Europeans. We get nothing in return (other than the suits get a lot of extra money for having them here). Imagine a system where only Canadians could train and we only taught Canadians how to play the game. Sort of a secret system. Kind of like how the Soviets used to do it with their training methods back in the day.

 

[Old Man Jags]

Great match with happy end for our team

I like your name. I am about to have some neronet - must be the darkest Czech grape variety. Along with some Stavek reserve Frankovka and Nestarec reds for a bit of funk.

 

[bigdog16]

I’ve never seen a bigger group of complainers. The country that claims this sport gets beat on their home soil, and all you do is point fingers, blame the refs, blame the coach, blame the players. Its a pretty embarassing look and I’m glad your face got smashed with humble pie.

Maybe, just maybe, other countries are catching up. I know its hard to admit.

 

[karhukissa]

Canada WJC Bingo:

"Refs"-"missing players"-"bad coach"-"conspiracy"-"soft euros"-"they hate us so.."

 

[llwyd]

Canada WJC Bingo:

"Refs"-"missing players"-"bad coach"-"conspiracy"-"soft euros"-"they hate us so.."

"Woke refs"... These days culture wars are everywhere!

 

[Silky Johnson]

I’ve never seen a bigger group of complainers. The country that claims this sport gets beat on their home soil, and all you do is point fingers, blame the refs, blame the coach, blame the players. Its a pretty embarassing look and I’m glad your face got smashed with humble pie.

Maybe, just maybe, other countries are catching up. I know its hard to admit.

This is a very silly comment.

Latvia is not catching up. Canada achieved miles under potencial. Blaming the refs is BS & players are who they are but Hockey Canada & the Coaching staff should definitely be under intense scrutiny.

Canada almost always has the best talent pool to pick from and this year more then usual. The results this team had were terrible. It's not like we lost in the final to the USA in overtime. This was an embarrassing performance.

Do you actually think this was a well built team that played to its potencial? Do you think that this is just the new normal of international Hockey?

Honestly?

I don't think so. Just shrugging our shoulders and accepting it seems pretty dumb.

 

[CanadaIsIrrelevant]

It is Czechia’s game!

 

[hirawl]

Europeans have been coming over here since the 1990s and playing in the CHL. Americans, that's fine, because our boys play in their NCAA leagues too, and there are a few American cities in the CHL. So it is a fine give and go there. But not with Europeans. We get nothing in return (other than the suits get a lot of extra money for having them here). Imagine a system where only Canadians could train and we only taught Canadians how to play the game. Sort of a secret system. Kind of like how the Soviets used to do it with their training methods back in the day.

Make Canada Soviet again! This is so sad and hilarious at the same time that I'm pissing my pants.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Nah, it's quite basic...countries always have ebb and flow draft classes. This was a bad one, which was exacerbated on top of that with poor decisions. Every country goes through it, The USA has had bad teams, good teams, and great teams, likewise with Finland, Sweden, Czechia, Russia, etc. I am pretty sure McDavids' and Bedards' teams won Gold and I suspect that McKennas' team will be favourites as well.

Except that this has nothing to do with a poor eligible group.

Cellebrini and Bedard should be on this team. So should Misa, Parekh and Yakemchuk (among many others).

Canada is developing hockey players incredibly well. Just that some were not available and others were astonishingly left off.

Hockey Canada shit the bed on coaching and player selection. The last to years have been not great but to be fair, they were coming off back to back championships.

People saying there is a problem with the development side of Canadian Hockey need to get there heads checked.

 

[RBbandit]

Make Canada Soviet again! This is so sad and hilarious at the same time that I'm pissing my pants.

Revive the famous Viktor Tikhonov and his CSKA Moscow and it will bring results, not sure if youngsters would enjoy it .

 

[catnip]

I came to check the results, saw the thread had 3K replies and figured someone must've lost.

 

[tapi]

Good for Czechia but they got a bit of a free win courtesy of the refs. We should not forget that Canada missed a lot of great players and would have won easy if we fielded the A-team instead of C